One Nation Under God – Religion And The American Culture

The United States Pledge of Allegiance “One Nation Under God” dates back to 1892. It is said that it was meant as an expression of patriotism, not of religious faith. However there are many who would argue that it is an expression of both religion and patriotism.

Many believe that religion and the American culture are deeply entwined and that “One Nation Under God” is the summation of the country of as a whole. You might only look to political leaders and to President Bush to see that religion is infact deeply entwined in politics within the United States.

From the founding fathers to social reformers, to the slaves and business tycoons of America you will find the religion has been an essential ingredient in the forming of the American culture and it’s overall character. It affects the way government does business. It affects the way corporations do business, and it affects who people feel towards their country and about how their country runs.

”One Nation Under God” can be found in the hymns of the country, in the American anthem, in their literature, arts, and in their hearts. Religion has played a vital role in shaping the United States into the country it is today.

History doesn’t favor one religion. Many religions can be traced to the American forefathers beginning with the Native American belief system. “One Nation Under God” can be traced back to the Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and Catholics during early times in history. It can even be traced back to the Quakers.

The power of religion and prayer was very evident after the tragic 911 events. It was evident during the 2004 presidential election, and it was evident during the recent destruction by Hurricane Katrina.

Prayer is important to people from all walks of life. From the immigrants to the farmer. From the clergy to the President. From the industrialist to the rock star.

Historians believe that “One Nation Under God” shows the power of prayer in the American people. They believe that without prayer American would be a very different place culturally, socially, and economically. Whether one wishes to believe it or not, a study of America will quickly reveal that prayer is deeply rooted in the philosophies and beliefs of the country.

So even if you believe that religion and politics should be kept separate, and that religion has no place in the American School system, the achievement of this goal might see a dramatic change in the American culture as a whole. In fact a change to this method of thinking might actually undermine the stability of the country.

Breaking away from what is entrenched in America’s roots may be more difficult to accomplish than one might think at first glance. For to turn away now from what was the basis of the building of America and what we know today would indicate that America was built on a fallacy. Now what would that do for the moral and ethical values of the country?

Like it or not religion and the American culture do go hand in hand. Whether “One Nation Under God” was intended to be an expression of patriotism, or an expression of religious faith may be difficult to prove, but it matters not for America has become what it is based on its history.

“One Nation Under God” does not discriminate between religions, religious beliefs, or where those religious beliefs came from. It recognizes the Americas as a melting pot where cultures come together and religious beliefs come together to practice their religious beliefs. “One Nation Under God” is actually many cultures under many God’s under one nation. Food for thought in the 21st Century.

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.